1777

Joseph Ridgway produced an acknowledgment condemning his having inadvertently
paid a fine in lieu of personal services in the militia which was read and
received.

Jacob Cook produced an acknowledgment condemning his having met with the
militia at their monthly training in order to save his fine which was read
and received.

But a few years later, Cook was in trouble again over “taking strong drink to
excess and neglect[ing] attendance of our religious meetings.” He again
repented, and the meeting accepted his acknowledgment.

The preparative Meeting of Mansfield report that John Decow has been so far
concerned in military services as to answer to his name when called at the
place of training to save his fine and has since paid a fine in lieu of
personal services and that Joseph English,
Jr. has likewise answered to
his name when called at the place of training to save his fine. Benjamin
Field, Barzillai Forman, and Fretwell Wright are appointed to treat with them
and report to next meeting.

The preparative meeting of Bordentown reports that Timothy Bunting has
transgressed the rules of our discipline in paying a fine in lieu of his
training with the militia, and accepting the trust of a committee man in
support of or encouraging military measures, and justifies his conduct, and
that Charles Taylor has transgressed by paying a fine on the same account and
justifies his conduct. John Wetheril and Isaiah Robins are appointed to treat
with them and report to next meeting.

John Decow had already been in trouble for “bearing of arms in a military
manner” and had submitted a written condemnation of his actions to the meeting
in 1776. This time a “testification” was produced
against him and Joseph English,
Jr., and they were informed of
their appeal rights. Neither chose to appeal, and that’s the last we hear of
Decow. English is still a member as late as 1783,
when a mention is made of his intent to marry (the wedding, alas, was reported
to have been accompanied by a “too free circulation of spirituous liquors” and
so English got another scolding).

A “testification” was made against Bunting & Taylor, which was “read,
approv’d, and sign’d” and they were informed of their appeal rights, but
there’s no indication of what happened after that.

1778

The preparative meeting of Chesterfield informs that Francis Borden,
Jr. has been guilty of
striking a man in anger, and has paid a fine in lieu of personal services in
the war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings. Isaiah Robins
and Thomas Thorn are appointed to visit him and let him know the charge
exhibited against him and that unless he makes satisfaction agreeable to
Discipline the meeting will be under the necessity to testify against him.

The said meeting likewise informs that James Combs has paid fines in lieu of
personal service in the war, and has hired a man to go to war in his room,
and neglects attending our religious meetings…

The said meeting also reports that Daniel Thorn has gone out in marriage with
a woman not of our society and has been concerned in bearing arms in a
warlike manner, pressing of wagons, and hiring a man in lieu of personal
service…

A “testification” was later produced against Francis Borden,
Jr., and Friends were appointed
to let him know his appeal rights, but the minutes don’t say what happened
next. The same process took place with Daniel Thorn. He chose not to appeal.

Caleb Shreve’s acknowledgment condemning his repaying the money to those who
had bought his goods taken for military fines was read and received.

The previous year, Shreve had been in trouble,
along with some others, for “being concerned in military services” and those
Quakers who had visited him and his fellow-offenders found that “they seemed
to justify [that is, make excuses for] their conduct” rather than repent. And
so another delegation was sent to try to bring them around.

Nonetheless, Shreve was considered to be enough in good standing to be sent as
a representative to the quarterly meeting in
1778, and to serve as a disciplinarian in his own
right — for instance, being sent by the meeting to chide one William
Lippincott, who “has bore arms as a soldier, been guilty of unchaste freedom
with a woman he has since married, and neglects the attendance of our
religious meeting.”

A testification was also produced against James Combs for neglecting the
attendance of our religious meetings, and being concerned in promoting
military measures by paying a fine and hiring a man to go to war in his room.
Thomas Thorn and Nathan Robins are appointed to serve him with a copy and
inform him of his right of appeal and report to our next meeting.

A James Combs had also been in trouble earlier for having married outside the
Society and contrary to its rules, but he repented of this. There’s no
indication of how this second disciplinary proceeding played out.

The Preparative Meeting of Chesterfield reports that John Robins has deviated
from the rules of our Discipline in being guilty of training and paying of
fines in lieu of personal service in the war and does not appear in a
disposition of condemning the same. Thomas Thorn and James Lawrie are
appointed to visit him on the occasion and let him know that if he does not
condemn it to the satisfaction of the monthly meeting he will be testified
against and make report to our next meeting.

John Robins produced an acknowledgment condemning his going to training and
paying a fine in lieu of personal services which was read and received.

John Robins was soon in trouble again, though, this time for “being the father
of an unlawful begotten child and going out in marriage” (or as it was later
put: “fornication with a woman he afterward married with the assistance of a
priest”). In 1780 he left town without requesting
a certificate from his meeting to give him an introduction to a meeting at his
destination, and the following year he was
formally disowned.

1779

Isaac Antrum produced an acknowledgment condemning his having paid a fine
for refusing to bear arms which was read and received.

Joshua Newbold produced an acknowledgment condemning his having paid a fine
in lieu of personal service in the military way which was read and received.

The Preparative meeting of Chesterfield report that Joseph Taylor has paid a
fine in lieu of personal services in the war, attended trainings, and been
concerned in horse racing. Fretwell Wright and Amos Middleton are appointed
to let him know the charges against him and that unless he condemns the said
transgressions to the satisfaction of Friends the meeting will be under a
necessity to testify against him and report to our next meeting.

A testification was produced to this meeting against Joseph Taylor for paying
a fine in lieu of personal service in the war, answering at a place of
training, and horse racing which was read, approved, and signed. Nathan
Middleton is appointed to give him a copy, let him know his right of appeal,
and, if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a first day meeting
at Chesterfield and report to our next meeting.

Taylor was informed of his appeal rights, and the testification against Taylor
was published.

The Preparative Meeting of Chesterfield report that Daniel Taylor has paid
fines to exempt him from personal service in the militia. Isaac Wright and
John Taylor of Bordentown are appointed to treat with him on the occasion and
report to our next meeting.

The committee who were appointed to enquire how far Friends have through
fear, or from lucrative motives, balked our religious testimony against war
report: John Thorn has taken the Test, paid fines, and hired a man to go out
in the Militia. Isaac Field has paid a fine for his servant in lieu of
personal service, holds an office of trust in the present unsettled state of
public affairs, and is supposed to have taken the Test.… John Wetherill has
paid a fine for his boy in lieu of personal service in the Militia, and after
his goods were sold he paid the money and took them again. Fretwell Wright,
Caleb Ogborn, John Elliss, and Barzillai Furman are appointed to treat with
them and report to next meeting.

The said committee likewise report that Nathan Beakes,
Jr. has paid fines for
military Services, Josiah Furman and John Haworth are appointed to treat with
him and inform him that if he does not make satisfaction he will be testified
against, and report to next meeting.

Isaac Ivins, Jr. produced an
acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having signed the Association
and paying fines in lieu of personal service in the war which was read and
referred for the consideration of next meeting.

Isaac Ivins, Jr. next shows
up in 1785 in a dispute over an unpaid debt
(assuming he isn’t the same person as plain old Isaac Ivins, who starts
showing up in 1781 as a wayward payer of militia
exemption taxes).

A testification was produced to this meeting against Daniel Taylor for paying
fines to exempt him from personal service in war, which was read, approved,
and signed. Isaiah Robins and Isaac Wright are appointed to give him a copy,
if required let him know his right of appeal, and report to next meeting.

John Wetherill produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his
having paid a military fine demanded on account of his lad and for buying his
wagon after it was distrained and sold, which was read and received.

Gamaliel Warren produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his
having paid a fine in lieu of personal service in the military way, which was
read and received.

1780

Testifications were produced to this meeting against John Thorn who has so
far deviated from our religious principles as to take the Test and pay fines
in lieu of personal service in the militia and hiring a man to act therein…
Likewise against Nathan Beakes,
Jr. for paying fines in lieu
of personal service in the militia, which were read, approved, and signed.

Mansfield Preparative meeting report that Ezra Black is charged with taking
too much Strong Drink, has paid a fine for the support of war, and has been
in the neglect of attending our Religious meetings…

Isaac Field produced an acknowledgment to this meeting condemning his having
paid a fine in lieu of personal service for the support of war, and also to
hold office in the present unsettled state of public affairs requiring a
qualification, the consideration of which is referred to our next meeting.

William West son of Bartholomew has married a woman, contrary to the rules of
our Society, that is not in membership with Friends, and has paid fines to
exempt him from personal service in the Militia and justifies his conduct
therein.

Thomas Thorn reports William West son of Bartholomew has been informed of the
charges against him he having married a woman, contrary to the rules of our
Society, that is not in membership with friends, and has paid fines to exempt
him from personal service in the Militia therefore this meeting disowns him
the said William West from being any longer a member of our religious Society
until he comes to a sense of his misconduct and condemns the same as
Discipline directs.

A William West was also busted in 1779 for
“taking spiritous liquor to excess, using unbecoming language, and neglecting
the attendance of our religious meetings,” but since the above two notes are
careful to call this William West “son of Bartholomew” I’m guessing this is to
distinguish him from another William West, so that may not be the same fellow.

Isaac Field produced a paper to this meeting condemning his having paid a
fine in lieu of personal service in the war, also to hold an office in the
present unsettled state of public affairs requiring a common affirmation for
the true performance thereof, which is referred for the consideration of next
meeting.

There is an “X” drawn in pencil through that last paragraph (possibly because
it is a duplicate of an earlier entry in the minutes). Field had also had to
“produce a paper” in 1774 to condemn his marrying
outside the Society and its customs.

Chesterfield Preparative meeting informs Thomas Thorn,
Jr. has been in the practice
of paying military fines to exempt him from the service thereof. Benjamin
Linton and Fretwell Wright are appointed to treat with him, inform him of the
charge, and report to next meeting.

A testification was produced to this meeting against Ezra Black for
neglecting the attendance of our religious meetings, taking spirituous liquor
to excess, and paying a fine for the support of war, which was read, approved
and signed. William Satterthwait and Barzillai Furman are appointed to give
him a copy, inform him of his right of appeal; if he does not appeal, to
publish it at the close of a First Day meeting at Mansfield and report to
next meeting.

Ezra Black decided to appeal to the Quarterly Meeting; he later withdrew his
appeal, but the meeting minutes are silent about him after that, so it’s
unclear if he reconciled with the meeting.

The friends appointed report they visited Thomas Thorn,
Jr., that he did not appear
disposed to make friends satisfaction, he having been in the practice of
paying military fines to exempt him from the service thereof, therefore this
meeting disowns him the said Thomas Thorn from being a member of our
religious society untill he comes to a sense of his error and condemns the
same to the satisfaction of the Meeting.

1781

A testification was produced to this meeting against Caleb Wright for being
guilty of fornication with a woman whom he did not marry, taking spirituous
liquor to excess, striking a man in anger, and paying a fine in lieu of
personal service in war, which was read and approved, and the clerk is
desired to transcribe and sign on behalf of the Meeting. Richard Wey Furman
and Joseph Pancoast are appointed to give him a copy, inform him of his right
of appeal; if he does not appeal, to publish it at the close of a First Day
Meeting at Upper Springfield and report to next meeting.

Wright later “produced an Acknowledgment to this Meeting concerning his having
unchaste freedom with a woman not now his wife and also striking a man in
anger,” but this, being a little incomplete, and in any case “not being
satisfactory,” some Friends were assigned to inquire further into the nature
of his repentance, and particularly into “whether he has satisfied the Woman.”
Meanwhile, a “testification” was drawn up, signed, and published, and he was
read his rights (he chose not to appeal).

Upperfreehold Preparative Meeting informs Isaac Ivins has acted as a juryman
on a jury appointed for the confiscation of estates, has paid an exempt or
substitute tax for the support of war, and neglects the attendance of our
religious meetings. John Bullock and Joseph Bullock are appointed to treat
with him, inform him of the charges, and report to next meeting.

1782

Isaac Ivins produced a paper to this meeting condemning his serving as a jury
man for the purpose of confiscating estates, and being in the practice of
paying all the monies demanded of him for carrying on the present unhappy
contest without enquiring for what use intended, from which he apprehends it
reasonable to suppose he has paid one or more substitute or exempt taxes, and
neglecting the attending of our religious meetings, which was read and
received.

Jacob Taylor has taken strong liquor to excess, paid money towards hiring a
substitute for war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings.
Fretwell Wright and Isaiah Robins are appointed to Treat with him on the
occasion and report to next Meeting.

A testification was produced to this Meeting against Jacob Taylor for taking
strong liquor to Excess, paying money towards hiring a substitute for the
service of war, and neglects the attendance of our religious meetings, which
was read, approved and signed. Fretwell Wright and David Kelly are appointed
to give him a copy thereof, inform him of his right of appeal; if he does not
appeal, to publish it at the close of a First Day meeting at Bordentown and
report to next meeting.

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